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Ballot Measure K: Enforcement of Laws Related to Prostitution and Sex Workers - "Shall the City: stop enforcing laws against prostitution; stop funding or supporting the First Offender Prostitution Program or any similar anti-prostitution program; enforce existing criminal laws that prohibit crimes such as battery, extortion and rape, regardless of the victim's status as a sex worker; and fully disclose the investigation and prosecution of violent crimes against sex workers?"

"Although some are currently legal, please tell me which of the following you think should be legal: -- Prostitution?"

Demographic

Pro Legal Prostitution (%)

Con Legal Prostitution (%)

Total

19

81

Gender(sample: 1,413)

Male

26

74

Female

13

87

Marital Status(sample: 1,421)

Single

24

76

Married

15

85

Age(sample: 1,411)

18-24

8

92

25-34

18

82

35-44

22

78

45-54

24

76

55-64

19

81

65-74

13

87

75 and over

17

83

Race(sample: 1,415)

White

20

80

Non-white

11

89

US Census Region(sample: 1,436)

Northeast

21

79

Midwest

17

83

South

15

85

West

27

73

Residence Population(sample: 1,398)

Farm

11

89

Rural nonfarm

12

88

Less than 2,500

10

90

2,500-10,000

13

87

10,000-50,000

20

80

50,000-100,000

24

76

Over 100,000

27

73

Protestants and Catholics(sample: 1,092)

Protestant

13

87

Catholic

22

78

Political Party(sample: 1,151)

Democrat

19

81

Republican

17

83

Independent

23

77

Education(sample: 1,411)

Less than high school graduate

9

91

High school graduate

15

85

Some college

17

83

College graduate or higher

26

74

Income(sample: 1,114)

Less than $10,000

13

87

$10,000-20,000

13

87

$20,000-30,000

23

77

$30,000-40,000

18

82

$40,000-50,000

21

79

$50,000-60,000

23

77

$60,000-70,000

21

79

$70,000-80,000

30

70

$80,000+

28

72

Demographic

Pro Legal Prostitution (%)

Con Legal Prostitution (%)

(Source: Social Science Research Center, 1995)
[ProCon.org received the raw data from David May, Ph.D. who used it for the article "Tolerance of nonconformity and its effect on attitudes toward the legalization of prostitution: A multivariate analysis" in the Oct. 1999 Deviant Behavior. ProCon.org tallied the data, removed the null results from sub-samples, and then rounded to the closest whole number on the percentages.]

H. Louis Harris and Associates: 1990

Sample: 2,245 nationwide

Margin of Error: Not available

"I will read you some activities that some people feel are matters of private choice or consent that ought to be left to the individual, that other people feel should be regulated by law, and others feel should be forbidden by law altogether. Please tell me, for each one, how you feel that activity should be treated -- should it be left to the individual, should it be allowed but regulated by law, or should it be totally forbidden by law? -- Engaging in prostitution"

"I'd like you to tell me whether you think each idea is a good idea or a poor idea? Legalize prostitution to provide more tax revenues and help control the disease and crime that now result from uncontrolled prostitution."

"I will read you some activities that some people feel are matters of private choice or consent that ought to be left to the individual, other people feel should be regulated by law, and others feel should be forbidden by law altogether. As I read each activity, please tell me which of the phrases on this card describes how you feel that activity should be treated -- should it be left to the individual, should it be allowed, but regulated by law, or should it be totally forbidden by law? -- Engaging in prostitution"

"There are a number of different ways that adults convicted of crimes can be dealt with. 1.) They may be put on probation -- not having to serve time in a prison but having to see a probation officer on a regular basis, 2.) they may be given a short prison sentence and then released on parole but required to see a parole officer regularly, or 3.) they may be given a long prison sentence. For each of the following types of adults convicted of a crime, I'd like you to tell me which choice would be best -- probation, a short sentence with parole or a long sentence. -- A woman convicted of prostitution"

"Do you feel that individuals found to be involved in (crime) should be required to accept some kind of treatment -- for example, medical or psychological treatment -- or should treatment be offered but not required, or do you feel no treatment is necessary? - A woman convicted of prostitution"

"I'd like you to take this sheet, which lists a number of different crimes. Alongside, each crime are the numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4. '1' stands for a very serious crime, '2' for a fairly serious crime, '3' for an only slightly serious crime, and '4' for an act which should not really be considered a crime at all. Please circle a number which represents just how serious you feel each crime is. - Prostitution"

"There are a number of different ways that adults convicted of crimes can be dealt with. 1.) They may be put on probation -- not having to serve time in a prison but having to see a probation officer on a regular basis, 2.) they may be given a short prison sentence and then released on parole but required to see a parole officer regularly, or 3.) they may be given a long prison sentence. For each of the following types of adults convicted of a crime, I'd like you to tell me which choice would be best -- probation, a short sentence with parole or a long sentence. -- A woman convicted of prostitution"